[Update #2]: After many, many delays, Bloodlines 2 will be re-revealed in September 2023, though you can now refund your pre-order if you wish

[Update]: Thanks to another delay, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will not be launching in 2021.

Instead of releasing later this year as originally planned, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has recently been delayed until 2021. Given the pandemic and the somewhat janky-looking preview, this was definitely a positive change in my book.

Unfortunately, the latest developer update is a lot harder to digest. Due to what I can only imagine is serious internal struggles, Hardsuit Labs and Paradox have chosen to fire the Lead Narrative Designer Brian Mitsoda and Creative Director Ka’ai Cluney.

"We appreciate, and value, the contributions of Brian and Ka’ai, which were instrumental in establishing the game's storyline and dark tone and have helped to ensure that we are making a true successor to the iconic Bloodlines," reads the brief announcement. "We wish them both the best in their future endeavors."

"With that, we are excited to announce that Alexandre Mandryka has come aboard as Creative Consultant, filling the Creative Director role for Bloodlines 2, and will help us in the final stages of development. Alexandre is committed to following the vision that is in place, and successfully bringing Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 to the fans."

While I plan to remain cautiously optimistic until we see more information about the improved version of Bloodlines 2, this bit of news does not bode well for its future. Such massive changes at the very top of the studio, as well as the sudden arrival of an outsider consultant, often signify a project that's going through absolute hell and is currently in the process of being reworked in order to have something, anything really, to ship.

I truly hope my worry is misplaced as the original Bloodlines really does deserve a proper sequel, but even so, I would highly advise against pre-ordering or going for any of the fancier editions. Just wait until we get some more gameplay footage and then decide from there - just to be on the safe side.

You can read more about the future of Bloodlines 2, as well as keep up with any updates, over at the official website.